Read Amplified Bible, 2015 Ecclesiastes 4 Bible Online

Ecclesiastes 4 - Amplified Bible, 2015 bible

Ecclesiastes 4

¹Then I looked again and considered all the acts of oppression that were being practiced under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.

²So I congratulated and thought more fortunate are those who are already dead than the living who are still living.

³But better off than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

⁴I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.

⁵The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy].

⁶One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind.

⁷Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].

⁸There was a certain man—without a dependent, having neither a child nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity (a wisp of smoke, self-conceit); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy task.

⁹Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;

¹⁰for if[1] either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up.

¹¹Again, if two lie down together, then they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone?

¹²And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

¹³A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who[2] no longer knows how to receive instruction and counsel (friendly reproof, warning)—

¹⁴for the poor youth has [used his wisdom and] come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

¹⁵I have seen all the living under the sun join with the second youth (the king's acknowledged successor) who replaces him.

¹⁶There is no end to all the people; to all who were before them. Yet those who come later will not be happy with him. Surely this also is vanity (emptiness) and chasing after the wind.